Tourism and the SDGs: An Analysis of Economic Growth, Decent Employment, and Gender Equality in the European Union (2009–2018)

Antonio Rafael Peña-Sánchez, José Ruiz-Chico, Mercedes Jiménez-García and José Antonio López-Sánchez
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Antonio Rafael Peña-Sánchez: Department of General Economy and INDESS, University of Cádiz, 11405 Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
José Ruiz-Chico: Department of General Economy and INDESS, University of Cádiz, 11405 Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
Mercedes Jiménez-García: Department of General Economy and INDESS, University of Cádiz, 11405 Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
José Antonio López-Sánchez: Department of History, Geography and Philosophy and INDESS, University of Cádiz, 11405 Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Mercedes Jiménez García

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 13, 1-24

Abstract: In 2015, the United Nations (UN) approved the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development to improve the lives of countries and societies. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) incorporated the agenda into the tourism industry. This study has as its primary objective an exploratory analysis of tourism activity in the EU-28 countries over the decade 2009–2018 and its adaptation to the Sustainable Development Goals through the lens of employment. This study focuses on the goals of decent employment and economic growth (O8) and gender equality (O5). The results obtained suggest that, in general, the eastern countries of the EU-28 show better values for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) (8) and SDG (5) with respect to both employment and the wage gap. However, these countries have lower GDP-weighted remunerations, which can become an opportunity to obtain higher shares of tourism activity within the EU. It is concluded that there is a need to reinforce the awareness of the fabric of the tourism business and for public administrations to favor stable and decent employment and a reduction in the current gender wage gap.

Keywords: sustainable tourism; sustainable development goals; economic growth; decent employment; gender equality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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